{"data":{"id":"us-va/va.-code-45.2-1602","jurisdiction":"us-va","citation":"Va. Code § 45.2-1602","heading":"Construction; purposes","body":"The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the following purposes:1. To foster, encourage, and promote the safe and efficient exploration for and development, production, utilization, and conservation of the Commonwealth's gas and oil resources;2. To provide a method of gas and oil conservation for maximizing exploration, development, production, and utilization of gas and oil resources;3. To recognize and protect the rights of any person owning an interest in gas or oil resources contained within a pool;4. To ensure the safe recovery of coal and other minerals;5. To maximize the production and recovery of coal without substantially affecting the right of a gas or oil owner proposing to drill a gas or oil well to explore for and produce gas or oil;6. To protect the citizens and the environment of the Commonwealth from the public safety and environmental risks associated with the development and production of gas or oil; and7. To recognize that the use of the surface for gas or oil development shall be only the use that is reasonably necessary to obtain the gas or oil.1982, c. 347, § 45.1-290; 1990, c. 92, § 45.1-361.3; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 387.","path":["Title 45.2. Mines, Minerals, and Energy","Subtitle IV. Gas and Oil","Chapter 16. Virginia Gas and Oil Act","Article 1. General Provisions"],"source_url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/45.2-1602/","current_through":"9/4/2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:16:34Z","sha256":"ef0783bb5ac3c0a062b5ca40b05c839c05f227ada891da3cf5c0287763a804a0","source_id":"us-va","stale":true,"prev":"us-va/va.-code-45.2-1601","next":"us-va/va.-code-45.2-1603"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}